Vera Bradley bags have been an easily recognizable brand among travelers and fashion aficionados for many years. The company was founded in 1982 by two women and named after one of their grandmothers. The first products were cotton bags, more luxury than utility. Inspiration for beginning the company came from one of the founders noticing that most travel bags were bland and masculine.
Today, the brand still focuses on the bold patterns that made them famous, mainly florals and paisleys. It’s true that you can quite easily identify a Vera Bradley bag when you see it. The designs of the pattern themselves are often pulled from French country fabrics.
You might wonder what kind of market there is for these French-inspired quilted bags, and the answer would be… a good market. Vera Bradley revenues approximately $540 million annually, has 136 stores, and over 2,000 employees.
The brand is headquartered in Fort Wayne, Indiana, and is traded publicly. At the beginning of Vera Bradley, they partnered with local sewing companies. Is this still the practice today? Let’s look beyond the paisley, and find out.
Verdict: Are Vera Bradley Bags Made in the USA?
No, Vera Bradley bags are not produced in the USA. They are mainly made in Indonesia and Cambodia.
As mentioned above, Vera Bradley bags were originally sewn here in the US. A few US-based sewing partners included companies such as Superior Sample, Phoenix Sewing, and KAM Manufacturing. It looks like the only sewing studio that remains in business today is KAM Manufacturing, based out of Ohio. In 2007, change came to Vera Bradley’s production when demand rose and they sought to lower costs.
Manufacturing was outsourced abroad and most of it originally shifted to China. Most production continued this way until around 2014, when Vera Bradley shifted gears again and decided to divest from Chinese dependence. Over the next 5 years, they reduced their sewing from 95% to under 50%. In fiscal year 2024, their production spending in China was down to 12%.
The majority of products are currently being manufactured in Indonesia and Cambodia. Other locations include China, Vietnam, India, the Philippines, and Pakistan.
Their tags confirm this:
Vera Bradley closed its one US production plant, located in New Haven, in 2015, firing around 250 workers. The facility only produced around 5% of the company’s bags, yet ended up on the chopping block for cutting costs. Since then, there have been no Vera Bradley bags made here in the USA.
The brand sources its cotton material from abroad. They have joined the Better Cotton initiative and committed to sourcing 75% of their cotton from reputable sources in the coming year. Better Cotton is a not-for-profit company aiming to ensure that cotton farming practices are ethical and environmentally safe.
The Better Cotton program operates in 22 partner countries with most cotton being harvested out of India:
In summary, Vera Bradley bags were once upon a time made here in the US, but they are no longer.
Popular American Made Vera Bradley Products
- None, but you can find some vintage Vera Bradley bags that were.
Popular Vera Bradley Products Not Made in the USA
- Large Original Duffel Bag
- Large Pouch
- Knollton Tote Bag
